MATCH REPORT: Coventry City U21s 3-3 QPR U21s - City held at home in six-goal thriller

14 September 2015

Kieran Crowley

George Thomas nets two and Lateef Elford-Alliyu scores the other as City are held at the Ricoh Arena by the R's...

Covemtry City Under-21s were denied all three points as ten-men QPR held on to secure a 3-3 draw at the Ricoh Arena.

Tyler Blackwood netted a brace and Frankie Sutherland scored a free-kick for the away side as George Thomas also notched a brace and Lateef Elford-Alliyu netted for the Sky Blues before James Haran was sent off for the away side.

The Sky Blues welcomed Adam Jackson into the starting line-up having signed a one month emergency loan deal from Championship side Middlesbrough earlier in the day.

In an entertaining first 45 minutes, City dominated the occasion and really should have gone into the break ahead. With 20 minutes on the clock, George Thomas found Lateef Elford-Alliyu in the area but his effort was deflected over.

Minutes later, the home side were made to pay as QPR forward Tyler Blackwood cut inside from the left and after bursting past several defenders, he somehow placed the ball inside the near post to give QPR the lead.

In an open contest, it didn’t take long for City to draw level. The R’s tried to play the ball out of the back but after an impressive high press, City won the ball back for Dion Kelly-Evans to square for George Thomas who tapped home in the 28th minute.

Four minutes later, City went ahead. The impressive Ryan Haynes burst past two players to cross for Elford-Alliyu who tapped home and put City deservedly ahead.

City should have stretched their lead as George Thomas and Dion Kelly-Evans had further chances in the final minutes of the half, but a 25-yard free-kick from Frankie Sutherland four minutes before the break meant the sides went in level.

The goals continued after the break as both defences struggled to keep either attack quiet. It didn’t take George Thomas long in the second-half to get his second as Bryn Morris put the City striker in behind who rounded the keeper and scored.

Elford-Alliyu hit the post in the 63rd minute before QPR drew themselves level when Blackwood headed home his second of the game from a left-sided cross.

With 15 minutes remaining, QPR defender James Haran was shown a second yellow after he cynically wiped out George Thomas and City pressed for a winner.

The Sky Blues had several late chances but George Thomas and Bryn Morris both had shots blocked in the final stages of the game, which meant the points were shared.